The solo home runs by Granato and Pressley came one batter apart during the first inning while Smith launched his in the fifth. Granato added a RBI single in the eighth and collected a team-high three hits.

Standridge improved to 2-2 as he scattered two hits and four walks. Casey Cahill and Jeremy Lewis, who was making his Patriots’ debut, finished off the shutout.

BRIDGEWATER — The rumor began spreading around the Columbus Clippers’ clubhouse, and the sight of Brett Jodie cleaning out his locker served as confirmation.

Jodie remembers feeling indifferent on July 30, 2001, when the Yankees shipped him to the San Diego Padres on the eve of the Major League Baseball trade deadline.

That quickly changed.

“This is a good thing,” Jodie was told by some veteran Triple-A teammates after being swapped for Sterling Hitchcock. “This might be a better opportunity. There is another team with a want or a need for you. They don’t just take anybody in these trades.”

That position is new to the dozens of minor-leaguers who changed organizations this past week as part of the annual late July trading fury.

But Jodie, now a pitching coach, and other veteran members of the 2009 Somerset Patriots are plenty familiar with the circumstances that culminated this year just hours before their game Friday night against the York Revolution at TD Bank Ballpark.

The Patriots are an independent Atlantic League team but almost all their players previously spent multiple seasons in the affiliated minors where July can be a particularly eventful time.

“Everybody is alert and on the edge of their seat, especially if you’re on the 40-man roster,” said catcher Jason Belcher, who was traded from the Milwaukee Brewers to the Montreal Expos for Peter Bergeron in 2004. “I was having a pretty good year as an outfielder at Double A and we had two outfielders get hurt at the big-league level. I had some high expectations and I thought I might go up — at least to Triple A. Then they told me, “You’ve been traded,’ and I didn’t know what to expect.”

Jodie, who pitched one major-league game with the Yankees, made seven more appearances with the Padres.

“I remember I was throwing during a bullpen session one of my first years with the Yankees and was told, “If you keep throwing like that you might get traded out of here,’ ” Jodie said. “That’s the type of environment we were in. That’s when I decided I’m pitching to win for my team, but also because a ton of other people are watching.”

For a prospect, the unknown caused by being forced into new surroundings can be exciting or nerve-racking. Or both.

“I knew if I did well I had a chance to get called up, but I was nervous because I didn’t know anyone over there,” said closer Bret Prinz, who was scratched from a scheduled Triple-A appearance on July 29, 2003 — the day that the Yankees acquired him from the Arizona Diamondbacks for former All-Star Raul Mondesi. “I never paid attention to the rumors because it’s part of the game, but when it happens it tells you another team believes you or you and another player are worthy of their All-Star.”

Josh Pressley was with the Double-A Binghamton Mets in 2004 when the first-place team lost four of its five starting pitchers to trades in a matter of hours on July 30.

“It affects everybody in different ways, not just on the field but in life in general,” said Pressley, who joined the Mets in an offseason trade sending Rey Ordonez to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. “But it’s not something you can control. On the minor-league side of things, it’s such a crapshoot as to who is going to be involved.”

Belcher nearly got traded at the deadline a second time, in 2005, but the player coming from the Colorado Rockies suffered a last-second injury to nullify the trade.

After being removed from the Washington Nationals’ 40-man roster, checking out of his living quarters, and saying many goodbyes, he awkwardly returned for another 1 1/2 seasons with the organization. He joined the Patriots in July 2007.

“I’ve experienced the high and the low,” Belcher said. “The first time my name came up on ESPN as being traded for Bergeron and that was pretty cool. But the second time, I thought that was going to be my big break and it did not happen.”

BRIDGEWATER — Minor-league baseball curveballs have been fired David Housel’s way for nine seasons.

Most have come from the hand of a pitcher, but a few months ago Housel was dealt the biggest curveball of his career.

The team which signed him to a contract, the independent Can-Am League’s Atlantic City Surf, folded in late March, a time when most other teams’ rosters are full.

It created a mad scramble for the former All-State selection at Mendham High School.

“It was weird,” said Housel, who resides in South Jersey. “It started when the manager who signed me left for another team, but I was still thinking “It’s going to be nice to play close to home.’ “

Housel landed on his feet and Tuesday night joined the rest of the Camden Riversharks to face his former team, the Somerset Patriots, at TD Bank Ballpark.

The Riversharks recently acquired Housel, 27, in a trade with the Atlantic League rival Lancaster Barnstormers. It might have been a big break considering he played in six straight games — picking up five hits in 17 at-bats while seeing time at second base and in the outfield — prior to sitting out Tuesday’s opener of a three-game series.

The former 47th-round draft choice of the Mets accumulated only 97 at-bats in 34 games with the Barnstormers. On the days he was not playing, his mind often wandered to thoughts of a post-playing career.

“I get frustrated when a young guy gets handed a job,” said Housel, who saw that situation happen earlier this season. “I understand I’ve been playing for a while and I’m never going to question it if it’s a Triple-A veteran or big-league guy. But sometimes it’s like, “When do I get my shot?’ It was the same thing with the Mets. They always needed to see some prospect and it was like “When are you going to see me?’ “

When the Barnstormers added a few of those more-experienced types, Housel wound up buried on the bench and asked his coaches to see explore the trade market.

Turns out the Riversharks had a utility need.

“I wanted to go somewhere I could play and Lancaster became too crowded,” Housel said. “The timing worked out.”

Maybe because “timing” owed him one.

Housel totaled more at-bats than all but eight members of the 2008 Patriots and his 92 games played was the second most of his career. It was not enough to prevent a release less than two weeks before the beginning of the postseason.

He followed the final chapter for his teammates on the radio.

“It was tough because I wanted to be there for it,” Housel said. “I was hoping for the best for those guys. I really enjoyed my time here and I didn’t have anything bad to say even the day I was released.”

Sparky Lyle remembers the decision as one the most difficult to make during his 12 years as Patriots manager. Only months earlier the addition had drawn a high level of praise from Lyle because of Housel’s ability to play multiple positions and handle the bat.

“It was a baseball decision,” Lyle said. “It had to be done in order to get us where we needed to be. He played a ton. Could we have gotten by otherwise, I would not have made that move.”

Housel started coaching — as a volunteer assistant — this season at Division III Stockton College in Pumona but is not yet fully committed to that idea.

After bouncing from team to team from April 2006 until now, Housel might have uncovered an elusive home with the Riversharks, whose manager (Joe Ferguson) routinely employs the small-ball tactics that Housel can offer.

“I’ve learned you never know what’s going to happen,” he said. “The transition from teams has never been too difficult or uncomfortable. But this situation is a bit more about producing runs and that does fit me. Maybe I can help us out the rest out of way and bring a winning attitude.”

If that entails tediously piecing together information packets, preparing a short speech or any other task involved with starting a big venture from scratch, he will do it.

All he asks in return is that you listen to his message.

Santaniello and his wife, Ellen, are members of the Northern New Jersey Chapter of the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition, which is partnering with the Somerset Patriots baseball team Saturday, Aug. 1, for Ovarian Cancer Awareness

Night at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater.

Tickets to the 7 p.m. game are available for $7 by calling 908-755-6276 or 908-765-2371. The discounted price also includes a 10 percent merchandise coupon for the Patriots’ team store.

“We need to reach as many women as we can with vital information,” said Carl, who became involved in the fight soon after Ellen’s diagnosis in April 2007. “Somewhere someone is experiencing symptoms and if they can find out about ovarian cancer it can save their life. After seeing what transpired and what my wife went through it gave me a determination that I don’t want to see another woman go through this.”

The idea for holding an awareness-raising function at the ballpark came to Carl last year as he looked for ways to reach larger groups than the 100 or less that usually attend the organization’s events.

Carl and Ellen, who live in North Plainfield, work on the Patriots’ game-day staff.

“I’d see the crowds and say to myself ‘Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could make this happen?’‚” Carl said. “We could have people come to stadium and receive life-saving information.”

Some members of the Northern New Jersey Chapter, including Carl, will address the crowd on the field as part of a pregame ceremony.

Others will hand out 3,000 information-packed bags to women. Each bag will contain a symptoms card, information pamphlet, pin and teal-colored bracelet.

There also will be tables set up along the concourse where fans can go to learn more about the disease and a 50/50 held with the proceeds benefiting the local NOCC, which purchased 500 game tickets.

“I think it’s important because women are uneducated about this stuff. I was,” said Ellen, who spent several months cancer-free before it returned last July. “If one or two or three people get something out of it, then it’s a success. I’m quiet about it, but I will say to people, “I have cancer and this is the kind of cancer I’ve had. Do you know anything about it?’ ”

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The problem, according to the Santaniellos, is that too many women do not know enough until it is too late.

The lack of uniform symptoms or an accurate screening test has turned awareness into ovarian cancer’s main defense.

Though it is not as prevalent as other forms of cancer, it is highly lethal because often it remains undetected in the early stages.

These kinds of events are designed to bring to the forefront knowledge of potential early-warning signs so that more women can recognize the disease at its most treatable time.

“They’re a great couple and great employees,” Patriots president and general manager Patrick McVerry said, “but when Carl speaks to you about this you really feel his passion for the cause and it becomes personal. It’s something they’re going through as a couple and it gives everybody here that little extra incentive to make sure night goes over really well. This really hits home for our staff.”

Ellen sees Saturday as an opportunity to share her story and spread the kind of attitude needed to survive.

“You have to have total faith,” she said, “It’s been very trying, but I told my doctor I wasn’t going to let it kill me. I am determined that I’m not going to let it beat me.”

Her husband and primary caregiver seems just as determined to do his part.

Carl said plans already are underway to make Ovarian Cancer Awareness Night a sponsored annual venture in a similar mold to that of Breast Cancer Awareness Day, which the Patriots have successfully held since 2007.

“I wasn’t going to let anything get in our way,” Carl said. ” … And next year is going to be bigger and better. Everything has to start somewhere.”

YORK, PA. — The York Revolution defeated the Somerset Patriots 9-8 in eleven innings in front of 3,690 fans at Sovereign Bank Stadium on Sunday evening.

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York broke an 8-8 tie with a run in the bottom of the eleventh inning to win 9-8 when right fielder Jason Aspito drew a lead off walk, advanced to third on a one out double to right by third baseman Matt Padgett and scampered home on a wild pitch on an intentional walk attempt.

The Patriots struck first with a pair of runs in the top of the first inning to take an early 2-0 lead on a one out two run single off the top of the left field wall by designated hitter Josh Pressley. Catcher Jason Belcher drew a one out walk and advanced to third when second baseman Matt Hagen followed with a double to left-center field.

The Revolution cut the Patriots lead to 2-1 with a run in the bottom of the second inning when Aspito doubled to left-center, moved to third on a ground out to second and scored on a sacrifice fly to right by Padgett.

Somerset got a run back in the top of the third inning to make it 3-1 when Hagen reached on a fielder’s choice ground ball to third, stole second and scored on a two out RBI single to left by third baseman Jeff Nettles.

York answered with a four-run bottom of the third to take a 5-3 lead. Left fielder Kennard Jones drew a lead off walk and advanced to second on a one out walk by designated hitter P.J. Rose. Aspito then plated Jones with an RBI double to center and after a walk by second baseman Jermy Acey, Aspito scored on a Patriots’ throwing error on a double play attempt. After a walk by first baseman Matt Rogelstad, catcher Josh Johnson hit a two out two run single off the left field wall.

The Patriots plated two unearned runs in the top of the fifth inning to tie the game 5-5. First baseman Joe Burke led off by ripping a double to right field and moved to third on a Revolution fielding error on a pop up to second off the bat of right fielder Elliott Ayala. Belcher then lined a two out RBI single to right that scored Burke and Hagen followed with an RBI single to center to plate Ayala.

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The Revolution broke the 5-5 tie with a run in the bottom of the fifth inning to take a 6-5 lead when Acey hit a two out single to left, moved to second on a single to center by Padgett and scored on an RBI single to right center by Rogelstad.

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York added a run in the bottom of the sixth inning to make it 7-5 when center fielder Carl Loadenthal led off with a single to right, advanced to second on a single to center by Jones and after a sacrifice bunt, came home on a one out RBI single to right by Aspito.

Somerset rallied for three runs in the top of the seventh inning to take an 8-7 lead. Pressley lined a one out single to center and moved to second on a single to left by Nettles. Burke then ripped a two out RBI double off the left field wall to score Pressley and Ayala followed with a two run single to left to plate Nettles and Burke.

The Revolution tied the game at 8-8 with a run in the bottom of the ninth inning when designated hitter Kala Ka’aihue led off with a double to right center and scored on an RBI single to left center by Aspito.

Revolution reliever Jason Kershner (2-3) picked up the win, throwing two scoreless innings allowing no hits while striking out one. Patriots’ reliever Ryan Basner (3-1) suffered the loss, allowing one on one hit while walking one and striking out two in 1.1 innings pitched.

With the loss the Patriots dropped to 9-8 in the second half and 52-35 overall while the Revolution improved to 8-10 and 32-56 overall.

“I’ve always taken pride in my defense and it is fun,” Granato said. “I feel shortstop is the best position on the field. You’re involved in everything.”

Granato leads Atlantic League shortstops in fielding percentage. Through his first 64 games Granato holds a .963 fielding percentage and is second in the league in double plays turned with 33.

“I don’t have a lot of those tools that people talk about but I feel like I can do a lot of things well and I work really hard,” Granato said. “Defense, I’ve always taken pride in. Hitting is hard you can do everything right and not hit. Defense is different.”

Defense was one of the main reasons he was acquired at the end of last season as Somerset pursued the Atlantic League Championship and one of the main reasons he was re-signed this year.

His offense was just a bonus. Granato hit .364 in 10 games last season. This season, Granato’s average has been floating around .250.

“I try not to get too wrapped up in batting average,” Granato said. “For me the season is long for a reason, it doesn’t matter how you start, it matters how you finish.”

Granato finished his first six years of professional baseball with a .296 average.

While his current average might not be up to par with his career average, he still reaches base and is in the middle of the pack with runs scored, RBI and stolen bases.

“We have to try to keep him consistent,” hitting coach Kevin Dattola said. “I’ve been working with him to try to hit more ground balls.

The Atlantic League has been a learning experience for Granato. He reached high-A with the Chicago Cubs and the Colorado Rockies and is now facing pitchers with Double-A, Triple-A and major league experience.

Granato’s average went up 20 points over the last two weeks and if he can make adjustments and the hits start falling, he should finish around where he always does.

“In the (independent) CanAm League, when I was there, there was some good pitching as well,” Granato said. “But here in a series you’re going to face four starters and all four starters and going to be high caliber pitchers.”

BRIDGEWATER — Matt Hagen always gives a little extra when he signs his autograph. The seeker also gets everything the Somerset Patriot believes in and the core values he lives his life by.

The pitcher is one of five Patriots — along with Brian Adams, Ryan Basner, Jason Standridge and Mike Santoro — that sign a Bible verse under their name.

“I guess it shows who you are, where you’ve been, and spreads the word,” Hagen said. “Maybe one guy looks at it and wonders what it is, and it affects their life.”

Hagen started signing a verse his first year in the minor leagues as a way to spread his faith and help keep himself accountable and focused. He signs “II Timothy 1:7,” which states,”God has not given us the Spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

“Coming up as a kid there are times when things aren’t going well on the field and there’s a feeling of fear. . . . As I got older the other parts of the verse started getting into my life more,” Hagen said.

All the players started signing with a verse at different times. Standridge started in high school, where he was a highly scouted two-sport athlete. Santoro started signing this year, inspired by roommate Brian Adams, who started signing a decade ago while he was in college.

Basner started in his first year in the minor leagues when he found himself in entirely new surroundings, with temptations and choices he never had to face before.

“It related to hard times and how you don’t want to keep digging that hole,” said Basner, who signs “Hebrew 12:1.”

Keeping the faith

“Things I do on the field, I do it for God who blessed me to play baseball. Give glory to God,” said Adams, who signs “Colossians 3:23.”

The Bible verses serve as a reminder to the players just as much as they are a way of witnessing.

Baseball is a game based around failure, disappointment and uncertainty. Release papers are often given out with little closure, a hitter can send three line drives to a fielder’s glove, and a pitcher can watch a routine fly ball get caught up in the wind. A culmination of these circumstances can make a player question himself, a time when faith can add perspective.

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“If I put my trust in him and put my career in him . . . I can do all things through him,” said Standridge, summing up “Philippians 4:13,” a verse that has helped him in his baseball career.

Santoro signs, “John 3:30,” which states “He must become greater, and I must become less and less.” It’s a phrase that extends well beyond the bumps and bruises Santoro has faced in baseball.

“To me it’s a life verse,” Santoro said. “It’s what I live my life by. It’s what we’re called to do.”

Fish in the sand

The extended signature is a small, quiet and slightly subtle way to share their beliefs and the response has been varied.

The players get the normal “What is this?” “What does this mean?” and, “I’m a Christian too” responses, but the markings have also been mistaken for the time of day and phone numbers.

There was also a child that never heard of the Bible, and for the players, that is reason enough for them to keep signing.

“If one kid asks their parents what it’s all about, they look it up and it sparks an interest, it’s all worth it,” Santoro said.

Fans of all ages come back after looking up the verse and talk to the players about it, some share their own verses with the players, and others use it as a way to spark conversation with their families.

BRIDGEWATER — There were too many unanswered questions for affiliated organizations. There were too many “what ifs” for the independent baseball teams.

But Clint Nageotte knew he was ready to get back on the mound. He was so sure of his ability that he bought his own plane ticket when the Somerset Patriots agreed to see what he had.

“He’s a little over 11 months out (of surgery),” said pitching coach and director of player procurement Brett Jodie, who activated Nageotte Tuesday. “It’s a little early right now, but we wanted to sign him and see what he can do.”

The right-hander, who spent parts of three seasons pitching for the Seattle Mariners, underwent Tommy John surgery just over 11 months ago.

“When I was rehabbing in Arizona I had guys saying, “You’re ready to take the next step competitively,’ ” Nageotte said. “With organizations, coming off the surgery, after 11 months, they said you have to prove it.”

Nageotte has a career minor-league record if 52-42 with a 4.14 ERA. He struck out 810 batters in 793 1/3 innings during his nine-year career.

His numbers became distorted over the past three seasons as he pitched through pain. Discomfort in his shoulder caused Nageotte to alter his delivery and resulted in elbow pain on top of the shoulder pain.

The 28-year-old finally opted for Tommy John surgery after going 1-5 with a 7.53 ERA with the Long Island Ducks, also of the Atlantic League.

“Pitching through the pain was really hard and I questioned whether I was going to put myself through it,” Nageotte said.

There was one point last season when Nageotte was on the mound against the Bridgeport Bluefish, looked over at the opposite bench and saw Bluefish manager Tommy John.

As if the pain was not enough of an indication, the site of the man who is synonymous with the ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction provided another hint.

Rehabilitation has been going smoothly since the Aug. 19, 2008, procedure and after throwing one bullpen session with the Patriots, Nageotte’s future is wide open.

“It was really nice to be able to throw without pain and it’s probably something I haven’t experienced in five or six years,” Nageotte said. “It’s a great feeling but it’s awkward at the same time.”

BRIDGEWATER — Beating the best excited Wayne Hoy and the rest of the original Somerset Patriots.

“They were supposed to be the best team in the league,” Hoy said after an 8-5 victory against the Atlantic City Surf in the first Atlantic League game.

It would have been impossible for Hoy to guess on May 20, 1998, who ultimately would most often stake claim to the title of “best team in the league.”

The Patriots captured their league-record 800th regular-season win Tuesday, an impressive feat to add to their unmatched eight playoff appearances and four championships.

“We’ve always tried to do things the same here,” said manager Sparky Lyle, who has been around for every win and all 677 losses. “We’re about getting players that can play together. That’s the common denominator. I guess our philosophy works.”

Part of the reason the formula has produced results is an ability to keep a nucleus intact for multiyear stretches, making it easy to categorize the success into three well-defined eras.

1999-2001: 217 wins, three Championship Series appearances, one title.

The Patriots finished with the league’s second-worst record in the inaugural season, but quickly turned around their fortunes behind the likes of Kevin Dattola, Billy Hall, Michael Warner, Darrin Winston, John Briscoe and Ricardo Jordan. “We had a good group of guys who played the right way,” Dattola said. “If you get individuals, that’s when you can have problems. We always had a lot of confidence and we would bring that out in big spots.”

2003-05: 213 wins, two Championship Series appearances, two titles.

The start of the 2003 season marked a clean slate; for the first time, no players remained from 1998. Instead Jeff Nettles, Ryan Radmanovich and Tony Gsell debuted, joining Emiliano Escandon to form a long-term foundation. “You know when you put the uniform on that you are expected to win,” Nettles said. “Even when you’ve already won a half and you’re going as individuals, there is a commitment to the team.”

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2007-09: 200 wins, two Championship Series appearances, one title.

Not long after last September’s celebration died down, Casey Cahill broached the topic of the future with several teammates. “We started talking about coming back and trying to build a dynasty,” said Cahill, one of six players to play for the Patriots in each of the past three seasons. “Everybody wants to further their own career, but as long as we’re here why not do something great?” Clinching a playoff berth earlier this month accomplished the first step toward becoming the league’s first back-to-back champions.

The similarities in approach across the eras made it comfortable for Dattola to return as hitting coach in 2007 after a five-year absence and for Nettles to transition back prior to this season.

“Everybody always talks about getting out of here,” Nettles said of the desire to get back on the track to the majors, “but everybody seems to want to come back here. A lot of that has to do with in affiliated ball you’re focused so much on yourself, then you come here and it’s more about the team. Winning is more important than anything.”

Cahill, a New Brunswick native, is better-versed in Patriots history than most of his teammates, but says he is not the only one interested.

“A lot of our players have a great understanding of the history,” he said, “and they take pride in winning.”

“We’ve won so many different ways — on the road, at home, in the first half, in the second half,” he said. “It all comes down to having a good clubhouse, and this might be the team with the best attitude yet.”